Application of a monitoring and evaluation method in irrigation water efficiency*

AbstractWater‐saving irrigation is of high priority in China for alleviation of the water resource supply–demand contradiction. Consequently, the objectives of irrigation water efficiency (IWE) are specified in policies at the macro scale such as national economic and social development programmes and national evaluation systems of water resources management. To scientifically evaluate IWE and water‐saving irrigation efficiency and to overcome the limitations of traditional IWE evaluation methods (e.g. numerous steps and not very practical), this study presents a normative and easy‐to‐use measurement and analysis method for IWE, specifically, head and end measurement. An IWE monitoring network, comprising more than 3700 irrigation districts on national and regional scales, was developed to dynamically monitor the variation in IWE of sample irrigation districts of different sizes and types from 2008 to 2018. The monitoring results provide technical support and scientific evidence for the formulation of water conservation policies and management at the macro scale of the water conservation sector. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.